SUZUKI Takayuki

Classification
S4, SB3, SM4 (IPC, 01 Apr 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (chinadaily.com.cn, 19 Sep 2008; waseda.jp, 14 Jun 2007)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (chinadaily.com.cn, 19 Sep 2008; waseda.jp, 14 Jun 2007)

Impairment Details
He was born with a congenital limb deficiency. He does not have a right leg and his left leg is missing from mid-thigh. His right arm ends at the elbow. (chinadaily.com.cn, 19 Sep 2008; waseda.jp, 14 Jun 2007)

General
MOVE TO ENGLAND
In 2014 he moved to England as he wanted to change his training environment. The following year he began studying and training at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England, where he completed a master's degree in international sport management in 2020. He plans to remain at Northumbria University to study for a PhD, in order to continue training with coach Louise Graham. "I found an amazing international swimming coach in Newcastle called Louise Graham, the head of aquatics at Northumbria University, and I asked her to coach me. I studied English so that I could train better and Newcastle turned out to be the best place for learning English and my swimming." (netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018; nhk.or.jp, 29 Aug 2017; goldwin.co.jp, 23 Jul 2014; taka-swimmer.com, 10 Jan 2021; tokyo-np.co.jp, 04 Jan 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an ambassador for the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018)

EARLY DAYS
Growing up he was cared for by his foster mother Yo Komatsu after he was left in the hospital by his biological parents when he was born. "I've always wanted my foster mum to be happy and to be proud of my athletics career. That was my main motivation when I started to compete - to make her proud." (netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018)